Drugs reportedly from Cebu City jail: Police seize P4.7M shabu

CEBU, Philippines — A high-value target was arrested with shabu worth P4.7 million in Cebu City in an operation that police consider one of the biggest in the Visayas, so far.

The operation was carried out at a hotel in Barangay Calamba Wednesday dawn.

Supt. Glen Mayam of the Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 said the suspect, Walter Oliamot, 23, did business in different towns in Cebu and even in Bohol.

"Dili ni siya basta-basta mamaligya og ginagmay. Binulto gyud ni iya. Usually, customers gikan sa lagyo. Mag-order ka tas dal-on niya. By bulk siya,” Mayam said.

The 400 grams of shabu confiscated were placed inside a shoe box, which was placed inside a backpack.

The shabu, Mayam said, was reportedly high grade, based on initial assessment on the quality of the substance.

Mayam said they stalled the operation for months purposely to make sure they could order a big amount of shabu from the suspect.

Mayam said they also chose to meet with the suspect at a hotel so the police can set an advantage, unlike when dealing with drug suspects at the latter’s territory, which may lead to a shootout.

“For the safety of our men, mas nindot nga didto para di na mi mosulod sa ilang lugar,” Mayam said.

A covert cop posed as a buyer of 100 grams worth of shabu and transacted with Oliamot. After the purchase was consummated, Oliamot was arrested.

Suspect

In an interview, Oliamot told The Freeman he joined the drug business in November last year when he met a certain Juan Daclan at a basketball game.

He said Daclan offered to pay him at least P30,000 if he agreed to keep a package of shabu and hand it to another person.

He said he acted as liaison three times.  What he reportedly knows is that Daclan had a contact named “Shao” who is reportedly inside the Cebu City Jail.

Oliamot said he regretted his decision but he joined the trade because his earning of P250 per day as a window glass installer was not enough. With what he earned in the drug trade, he was able to provide for himself and for his family.

Oliamot is detained temporarily at the San Nicolas Police Station pending the filing of formal charges against him for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Lapu operation

Meanwhile, three drug personalities were arrested in Lapu-Lapu City in a separate buy bust operation last Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Police arrested Ronald Taghoy, Aiza Fukai, and Earl Intong and confiscated from them shabu worth P30,680.

Senior Insp. Gennesis Aniversario, deputy chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- City Intelligence Branch (LCPO- CIB), said Taghoy, 37, was arrested first in Sitio Sikit, Barangay Maribago at 6:50 p.m.

Police confiscated from him 26 sachets of shabu estimated to worth P12,272, as well as proceeds of the sale amounting to P350.

Several hours later at past midnight, Fukai, 30, and Intong, 21, were arrested in Sitio Ylaya, still in Barangay Maribago.

Police seized from the two 39 small sachets of shabu estimated to worth P18,408, and proceeds of the sale amounting to P360.

The three are detained at the holding cell at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office. (FREEMAN)